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A Connecticut school district is expected to begin offering free breakfast to all students -- regardless of family income. Currently, about half of the district's students eat breakfast at school, but officials who want to expand the program say data show that increasing breakfast participation could benefit students' attendance and grades.

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All schools in a Georgia district are participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, qualifying all students for free meals regardless of family income. An official said the district received calls seeking to confirm the free meals, with cheers from some parents welcoming the news.

The School Nutrition Association of Connecticut is partnering with other groups to increase school breakfast participation in one district. Now, the district is using a state grant to provide breakfast for free for a month for all students. Officials hope to maintain participation levels when some students will begin paying $1.25 for the meals. "I don't think people realize how much need there is in West Hartford," said Dawn Crayco of End Hunger Connecticut!

School nutrition professionals in an Oklahoma school district say new federal meal standards and additional costs associated with purchasing more vegetables and fruits have prompted a decision to eliminate food bars in the district's elementary schools. Officials note that the standards require staff to serve fruits and vegetables to students instead of offering them as an option on a food bar.

After observing one district's use of carts to serve students breakfast, nutrition professionals in two Pennsylvania districts say they were inspired to order their own carts to serve grab-and-go breakfast items, including cereal bars and juice. Officials say that with breakfast participation rates often low, the carts -- placed in well-trafficked areas of school -- will help attract hungry students.

Lawmakers in Colorado have passed legislation that would require schools to adopt universal in-class breakfast programs if they enroll a student population with at least 80% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches. After the first year, the legislation would expand mandatory participation to those with at least 70% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches.